Summary

In Chapter 6, Ruben and Edith hosted Ruben’s parents, Alter and Henya, for Thanksgiving. After dinner, they had dessert. Everyone seemed bored. Judy tried dismissing herself to work on college essays. Her grandparents requested a recitation of one of her pieces. Judy performed a sample from her essay on “‘What Is Fairness?’” (109). Ruben felt her rendition diluted the work they had done together on the piece. Afterwards, Edith complimented Judy, adding that she and her nose were beautiful.

Alter scoffed. He disliked the notion of fairness. He asked Judy if her writing represented her beliefs or what the college would want to hear. Judy said the essay represented her beliefs.

Ruben knew what Alter would say next, but did nothing to stop him. Alter began a diatribe about the absurdity of fairness and American notions of equality. He cited examples from Jewish history...